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DEGREE PROGRAMS WARTBURG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
the semester, and before the awarding of the degree. The thesis is given one of three judgments: accepted, accepted with honors, or accepted with high honors. Details concerning style and format are available from the registrar. Six hours of credit will be given for a satisfactory thesis. A senior doing a thesis may choose to audit two courses in the spring semester, Leaders in Mission (IN 308W) and Bible in the Parish (IN 306W).
M.Div. Graduation Requirements The requirements of the Master of Divinity degree are: 1. The satisfactory completion of academic requirements, (including all named courses or their authorized equivalents, and distribution requirements) with a minimum of 123 semester hours (90 hours from the three years of academic work, 6 hours for one unit of CPE, together with 27 hours received at the completion of one year of internship). 2. One year minimum residency. 3. A recommendation by the faculty to the Board of Directors and the Board’s approval. Students must file an “Application for Degree” with the Registrar at the beginning of their final semester of study. A student must be in good standing with the business office, library, and financial aid office in order to receive a diploma. The Master of Divinity degree replaces the former Bachelor of Divinity degree and was awarded for the first time to the class of 1970. Those who graduated prior to that year may receive certification of an M.Div. degree upon application to the seminary.
Master of Arts Degree Program The basic Master of Arts (M.A.) degree program is aimed at students interested in theological study at the seminary level for personal growth, international students preparing for a teaching ministry, or students preparing for further graduate study. It has also served the interests of people who want to integrate theological reflection with other professions in which they want to live out their vocation. The M.A. satisfies the academic requirements for service as diaconal ministers or associates in ministry in congregations, agencies, and institutions of the church. For such students, the M.A. aims at integrating skills for ministry, normally acquired elsewhere, with theological reflection. (Students interested in rostered church service who are members of church denominations that require the completion of field work or other activities in addition to their academic study need to plan on completing those requirements separately from the degree program.) Students interested in service as a diaconal minister may instead want to consider the Master of Arts in Diaconal Ministry, which includes coursework and field work activities specific to the needs of that church service.
Normal Course
The M.A. degree program normally requires two years, with a limit of five years for its completion. A minimum of one year must be spent in residence at Wartburg. A full year of academic study consists of two semesters, a January interim, and a one week course during prolog week. To be considered a full-time student and to be eligible for financial aid, a student must take a minimum of nine
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semester hours. Please refer to the Residential program chart for an elaboration of the normal sequencing of courses in the two-year residential M.A. degree.
Distributed Learning Option
Master of Arts students may enroll in Wartburg’s Distributed Learning program to complete the degree over a three year period using a combination of online courses and short on-campus intensives. Please refer to the Distributed Learning program chart for an elaboration of the sequencing of online and intensive courses.
M.A. Course of Study
In the M.A. program, the student takes nine hours in both the Biblical Studies and History and Theology divisions within the context of the required curriculum. In the Ministry division, the student will need to select from a variety of suggested courses to meet the nine-hour requirement for that division. The M.A. student must also complete the cross-cultural immersion requirement (normally offered during the January Interim). A student may pursue a major area of study in any one of the three divisions by taking an additional 15 hours in that division. The major research project requirement is included in these hours. Where appropriate to the student’s goals, the major area of study may be interdisciplinary in character. Greek is not a prerequisite for an M.A. degree. However, for M.A. students who choose the New Testament as a major area of study and have no training in Greek, the summer Greek course (BI 003- 004W) is required. A student choosing to take BI 003-004W New Testament Greek may receive four hours of credit toward an M.A. degree. For those who choose the Hebrew Bible as a major area of study, Hebrew is required. Those students should take Hebrew Language and Bible, Parts I and II (BI 222W and BI 224W). The M.A. program allows students flexibility in designing a course of study utilizing the full range of academic resources of the seminary, including independent study. Through academic advising, prior background may be found to have covered some introductory required courses. In this case, advanced courses may be substituted. During their second year, students should use 300 level courses for advanced work.
M.A. Major Research Project
The project integrates the course work for the degree. It may be in one of the classical disciplines or it may be related to some area of ministry and church life. In the latter case, field work may be an element of the research for the project. A student who intends to prepare for diaconal ministry or for service as an associate in ministry may use the project requirement to do research related to the particular ministry toward which the student is aiming. Both a written report and an oral presentation are required. Guidance for the major research project is provided in a research seminar in the fall of the second year. During the spring semester of the second year, an informal research seminar may be held. This seminar receives no credit and may meet sporadically. An M.A. guide book is available from the M.A. coordinator.
Concentration in Youth, Culture, and Mission
Within the regular M.A. program, Wartburg offers the option of a Concentration in Youth, Culture, and Mission (YCM). This concentration serves as academic preparation for service in the